Water inlet and vacuum release for collapsible bag type washers and extractors



Dec. 26, 1950 w. F. OLIVER WATER INLET AND VACUUM RELEASE FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG TYPE WASHERS AND EXTRACTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1948 mmvrm WALLACE. F. ouvuz W fiu ATTORNEY.

Dec. 26, 1950 w. F. OLIVER 2,535,226

WATER INLET AND VACUUM RELEASE FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG TYPE WASHERS AND EXTRACTORS Filed June 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WALLACE F. OL\ VER.

RTTORNEY.

Dec. 26, 1950 w. F. OLIVER 2,535,226 WATER INLET AND VACUUM RELEASE FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG TYPE WASHERS AND EXTRACTORS Filed June 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JT-B INVENTOR. WALLACE F. OLIVE R,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 WATER INLET AND VACUUM RELEASE FOR COLLAPSIBLE BAG TYPE WASHERS AND EXTRACTORS Wallace F. Oliver, South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application June 15, 1948, Serial No. 33,184

7 Claims.

This invention relates to water inlet and vacuum release mechanism for combined washer and extractor of the type employing a rubber bag collapsed on clothing contained therein, by extraction of water and air from within the bag, and which clothing has been previously washed inside the bag by provision of washing liquid and agitating means inside the bag.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide means to efficiently .break the vacuum, or pressure substantially less than atmosphere, by a mechanism operable .by a small electrical solenoid, and to provide after such breaking an opening oi. sufllclent size to allow injection of liquid into the opening. I

It is a further object to provide a water inlet system for a collapsing bag type washer extractor, wherein water inletprovided will satisfy plumbing code requirements and still make it possible to satisfactorily seal the bag for extraction of liquid and air therefrom, necessary for collapsing the bag for extraction. v

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description, and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central sectional view throu h a washing machine having the vacuum breaking valve and water inlet system attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a valve and solenoid showing the valve in closed position.

Figure 3 is also a cross section of the valve and solenoid, but with the solenoid initially actuated to break the vacuum through the smaller opening and before the larger primary valve has moved away from the seat.

Fi ure 4 is also a cross section of the valve and solenoid, but with both rimary valve and secondary valve members pulled away from the seat thus leaving an opening sufliciently large to allow washing liquid to be inject d to the o ening from an in et spaced ad acent to the opening. Figure 5 shows a modified form of the invention emplo ing a solenoid to ho d the va ve clo ed and providing a sprin for release. The parts are shown in their closed position.

Figure 6 is a view of the same mechani m as shown in Fi ure 5 but in this view the sma ler sec ndary valv ha been opened and the spring is tendin to pu l the larger princi al valve away from the seat but has not asyet done so.

Fi ure 7 also shows the same parts as Fi ure 6 2 valves have been pulled away and the device is shown in the full open position.

The washing machine shown in Figure 1 comprises a flexible bag it which is supported within a suitable wall H. An oscillatable agitator l2 located centrally of the bag is provided for effecting a washing action on laundry and washing liquid carried in the bag Ill. The bag l0 has an open neck 10A through which laundry and detergent materials may be introduced when the cover assembly HA is removed by swinging upwardly on a hinge 12A adjacent an edge thereof. The cover IIA seals against the neck opening NA in such a manner as to produce an air tight joint when a near vacuum is produced within the bag. This reduction in pressure within the bag and removal of air from the interior of the bag is accomplished by the rotation of a pump l3 which extracts water and air through a bottom opening H which communicates with the interior of the bag underneath the agitator. The general arrangement of the bag and extraction means used in connection therewith for combining washing and liquid extraction by the collapsing of the bag on the clothes is discussed in copending applications filed in the name of Henry J Rand and particular reference is made to application Serial No. 682.322 filed July 9, 1946, now P tent No. 2.472.682 issu d June 7. 1949, and application Serial Number 12,761 filed March 3, 1948.

In order to accomplish injection of water into the mach ne to conform to plumbing codes it is necessary that a suitable gap be provided so that water iniected under press re can jump this gap and thus it will be assured that no water can be taken back into the supply line. if the su ply line pressure should become less than the pr ssure in the container. In order to accom lish this result a wat r inlet tube [5 from a thermos statically controlled mixing valve it, which mixes hot and cold water from ordinary house supply lines under normal water pressure is rovided. The inlet tube l5 extends from the thermostatic valve IE to an in ection tuhe end H at the top of the machine. This end I! extends into the cover I IA as shown in Figure 1. Opening l8 in the cover being so posit oned that when the cover II A is swung to an open position the proiecting end Il will remain in position and will not be interfered with by the cover. S aced from the end I! of the inlet tube is a water directing tube l9 posit oned to catch liquid injected under pressure from the tube I! and to bu i this c e b th the seco y and p i ry d r t to ard. the center of cover a toward an opening 20 positioned centrally on the cover. This opening 20 preferably provided with a sealing gasket 2| is closed by a hemispherical primary valve closure member 22 (see Fig. 2). This primary valve closure member 22 has a centrally located relatively smaller opening 23 provided therein .which is closed by a rubber gasket covered closure member 24. The primary closure member 22 has a bracket 25 attached thereto provide with suitable openings 26 in the sides thereof. The small secondary closure member 24 has a shaft portion 24A which extends upwardly through an Opening the bracket 25, the shaft 24A having a freedom of sliding movement in this bracket 25 as shown by comparison of Figures 2 and 3. The end of the shaft portion 24A is threaded to a solenoid armature member 21. This solenoids armature member 21 extends upwardly into the core of a solenoid winding 28. The interior of this solenoid winding 28 is provided with a guide member 29 of non-magnetic material closed at the top as shown. This guide member 29 is supported above the opening 20 by a bracket 30 and as will be noted on reference to Figures 2 to 4 inclusive this provides a support for the solenoid coil 28. The solenoid coil 28 has provision for an electrical circuit thereto through lead wires 3|, 32 as shown which lead to suitable source of current and switch connections for actuating the solenoid.

Adjacent the opening 20 and sufliciently above it and set at an angle to direct a stream of water into the opening 20, is the projecting end of the water directing tube l9. Water from this tube is thus enabled to flow into the opening 20 as shown in Figure 4.

In operation assuming that a near vacuum has been induced inside of the ba ID by operation of the pump I3, this vacuum .;nay be released by closing the circuit to the solenoid winding 28 thru the leads 3|, 32, and before this electrical circuit is closed the condition of the parts of the valve mechanism are as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 it appears that closure member 22 is in position against the inlet gasket 2| of the opening 20 and also the closure member 24 is in position to close the smaller opening 23 in the center of the main valve 22. However, on the actuation of the solenoid 28 the solenoid armature 21 is immediately induced to move upwardly in direction to lift the closure member 24 away from the seat of the smaller opening 23 as shown in Figure 3. The top portion of the closure member 24 contacts the bracket 25 and the solenoid continues to exert a pull upwardly. The initial movement however, of the solenoid armature 21 and the closure 24 has opened small opening 23 and has allowed air to enter through the opening 23. The continuing pull exerted by the solenoid armature 21 provides for movement of the large closure member 22 away from the opening 2|) as soon as the pressure outside and inside of the opening 28 is sufficiently equalized to allow the member 22 to be pulled away from the opening by the pull exerted by the solenoid. The lifting of the member 22 is accomplished'by contact of member 24 on bracket 25. When the closure 22 is lifted the parts come to the position shown in Figure 4 where the closure 22 is sufllciently pulled away from the opening 28 so that the water directing tube i9 is now in line to inject the water into the tub if so desired. Such injection may be accomplished by suitable mixing valve mechanism 18. Such control may be efleeted by the closing of a circuit toeither the hot water solenoid |8A or the mixed water solenoid I813 attached to the mixing valve I6. On actuation of either of th se solenoids the water tube |1 will direct water into the water directing tube l8 and then out directly into the opening 20 as shown in Figure 4.

It is apparent from the above description that the mechanism shown therein provides for a breaking of the vacuum by a relatively small solenoid positioned directly above the opening with a valve opening centrally positioned and the solenoid having an initial pull sufficient to open a small central opening and the solenoid continuing to exert a pull to open a larger opening, thus to provide a satisfactory break of vacuum and also to provide sufficient opening to allow washing liquid to be injected.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show a modified form of my invention. In this arrangement a hemispherical shaped primary valve closure member 40 is provided, which is of a size adaptable to seat against the gasket 2| of the opening 28 and which has a smaller central opening 4|. The primary closure member 40 has secured thereto an arm 42 which is pivoted on a pin 43 carried by a bracket 44. The arm 42 has an upwardly extending portion 45 which contacts a secondary arm 46 having a stop member 41 attached thereto which causes the arm 48 to carry the arm 45 therewith as the arm 48 moves in a clockwise direction. The arm 48 is also pivoted at 43 and has a downwardly extending lever portion 48 which is slidably mounted to carry a secondary valve closure member 49. The lever 48 surrounds a cylindrical portion 50 of the member 49 which is of such size as to allow sliding movement relative to the arm 48 with definite limitation of this sliding movement because of the length of the slot as shown. The member 49 is preferably made of rubber so that it may be inserted into an opening in the arm 48. The arm 46 has a spring 5| attached thereto which normally forces the arm in clockwise direction as shown in Figure 5 and which will therefore normally cause upward movement of both the primary valve member 4|) and the secondary closure member 49. Assuming the closure members as shown in the Figure 5 the spring 5| will first lift the secondary closure member 48 through the action of the lever 48. The stop member 41 also carried clockwise by spring 5| will contact arm 45 of lever 42 and exert a force tending to lift closure 4|! but will not lift closure 40 until pressures are sumciently equalized. The condition with the secondary valve open is shown in Figure 6. As soon as the vacuum is released sufficiently to allow the force exerted by the spring 5| to lift the primary closure member 48 away from the seat, the parts will assume the position as shown in Figure '1 with a complete opening of both members. Therefore unless there is some force moving the end of an arm 48 in a counterclockwise direction to hold the valve closure members down the result will be an opening of the closure members by the spring 5|. In order to provide means for holding the .valve members closed an electrical solenoid II is provided. This solenoid is shown in Figure 5, with its armature 58 in the maximum activated position. The link 51 is connected to a spring 58 which is hooked to the end of the lever 48 and holds the valve members closed as shown in Figure 5.

It is noted that the above described modification provides for normally open valve members and when it desired to have the valve members closed it is necessary to close an electrical circult to the solenoid 55 whereas within the first described and preferred form of the invention the actuation of the solenoid opens the valve.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum breaking and water inlet system for a washing machine having a liquid container with an opening to receive water, a water inlet tube positioned to direct water into said opening, a primary closure member for said opening, a lifting unit for lifting said primary closure member away from said opening a distance sufficient to leave a clear path for water from said water inlet tube into said opening, a secondary smaller opening in said primary closure member, a secondary closure for said secondary opening, and connections from said lifting unit to said secondary closure providing opening of said secondary closure on initial lifting movement of said lifting unit whereby vacuum in said container will be broken by initial lifting movement and opening of said secondary closure followed by opening of said primary closure leaving said liquid container opening free to receive water from said inlet tube.

2. In a vacuum breaking and water inlet system for a washing machine having a liquid container, a water inlet tube positioned to direct water into an opening in said container, a vacuum breaking valve member comprising a primary closure member for said openin having a central opening therein, a bracket forming a part of said primary closure member and adapted to lift said primary closure member, a secondary closure member for closing said central opening and positioned to open said central opening by sliding movement relative to said primary closure member and to lift said primary member on further movement in the same direction as said sliding opening movement of said secondary closure member, and a lifting unit connected to said secondary closure member having a movement sufiicient to first move said secondary closure member to an open position and subsequently on further movement to lift said primary closure member to open position a distance sufilcient to leave a clear path for water from said water inlet tube into said opening.

3. In a vacuum breaking and water inlet system for a washing machine having a liquid eontainer, a water inlet tube positioned to direct water into an opening in said container, a vacuum breaking valve member comprising a primary closure member for said opening having a central opening therein, a secondary closure member for closing said central opening and positioned for sliding movement relative to said primary closure member, a bracket above said primary closure member and having a stop contacting said secondary closure member, a solenoid armature connected to lift both said closures, a solenoid winding around said armature whereby initial movement of said solenoid armature will open said secondary opening and will continue exerting a pull on said primary closure member thereby to provide opening of said primary member after initial opening of said secondary closure member and moving said closure members a distance sufllcient to provide a clear path for water from said water inlet tube into said opening.

4. In a vacuum breaking and a water inlet system adapted for use with a washing machine of the type utilizing a clothes container having an opening therein and in which there is induced a partial vacuum for the purpose of extracting water from the clothes contained therein; a vacuum breaking valve member comprising a primary closure member for closing the opening in said clothes container, said primary closure member having an opening therein, a water inlet tube directed toward said opening in said clothes container, a secondary closure member forclosing said opening in said primary closure member, an arm connected to said closure members in such a manner that a pull on said arm will first remove said secondary closure member and then remove said primary closure member to permit said water inlet tube to discharge water into said clothes container through the opening therein.

5. In a vacuum breaking and water inlet system adapted for use with a washing machine of the type utilizing a clothes container having an opening therein and in which there is induced a partial vacuum for the purpose of extracting water from the clothes contained therein, a vacuum breaking valve member comprising a primary closure member for closing the opening in said clothes container, said primary closure member having an opening therein, a seat for said primary closure, a water inlet tube directed toward said opening in said clothes container, a secondary closure for closing said opening in said primary closure member, a seat for said secondary closure member, an arm connected to said closure member in such a manner that a pull on said arm will first remove said secondary closure member and then remove said primary closure member to permit said water inlet tube to discharge ,a stream of water into said clothes container through the opening therein.

6. In a vacuum breaking and water inlet system adapted for use with a washing machine of the type utilizing a clothes container having an opening therein and in which there is induced a partial vacuum for the purpose of extracting water from the clothes contained therein, a vacuum breaking valve member comprising a pri-- mary closure member for closing the opening in said clothes container, said primary closure member having an opening therein, a stop member mounted on said primary closure, a seat for said primary closure, a water inlet tube directed at said opening in said clothes container, a secondary closure for closing said opening in said primary closure, a seat for said secondary closure member, an arm directly connected to said secondary closure in such a manner that a pull exerted on said arm will first unseat said secondary closure and then unseat said primary closure by contact with the stop mounted thereon.

'7. In a vacuum breaking and water inlet system adapted for use with a washing machine of the type utilizing a clothes container having an opening therein and in which there is induced a partial vacuum for the purpose of extracting water from the clothes contained therein, a vacuum breaking valve member comprising a primary closure member for closing the opening in said clothes container, said primary closure member having an opening therein, a stop member mounted on said primary closure, a seat for said primary closure, a water inlet tube directed at said opening in said clothes container, a secondary closure for closing said opening in said primary closure, a seat for said secondary closure member, a solenoid armature connected directly to said secondary closure, a solenoid winding 8 around said armature to move said armahue to UNITED STATES PATENTS first unseat said secondary closure and then un- Number Name Date seat said primary closure by contact with the I 843 019 Johnson Feb. 1907 mwnted 1.483:657 Glidden Feb, 12', 1924 m 5 1, ,094 Mar. 22, 1932 REFERENCES CITED 2,220,226 "Larson Mar. 7, 1940 2,260,789 fl Richter Oct. 28, 1941 The following references are of record in the n 

